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Bylaws

CHRISTIAN HOME EDUCATORS CONFEDERATION OF KANSAS
BY-LAWS
As amended and approved at the October 25, 2014 CHECK meeting

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Christian Home Educators Confederation of Kansas (CHECK).

ARTICLE II – DEFINITION AND PURPOSE

Christian Home Educators Confederation of Kansas (CHECK) is a Kansas state homeschool organization. CHECK’s mission is to further the interests of private home education in Kansas by providing accurate, helpful information on home education; encouraging the creation, functioning and growth of local support groups; and advocating for home education in the state and federal legislatures and other relevant agencies and organizations. CHECK-sponsored activities and publications will be consistently Christian and dedicated to the honor and glory of God in keeping with the Biblical commands of Deuteronomy 6:4-10, Proverbs 22:6, and Ephesians 6:4.

CHECK does not seek to represent, or speak for, all home educators in Kansas or even all Christian home educators in Kansas. CHECK is not a governing or certifying body for home educators. CHECK is not a church nor is this organization meant to replace the ministry of the local church to the home education family.

CHECK advocates for private home education, i.e. homeschoolers who take full responsibility for the education of their children without government assistance.

ARTICLE III – STATEMENT OF FAITH

We believe:
1. The Bible to be the inspired, infallible, divinely preserved Word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life.
2. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His imminent bodily return in power and glory.
4. That man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone, not trusting in any personal works whatsoever, can be saved.
5. That salvation is the free gift of God brought to the sinner by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for man’s sin.
6. That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict mankind; indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
7. In the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that individual doctrinal differences which may exist, outside of the aforementioned (III:1-6), should not hinder the unity of Christian home educators.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICES

SECTION 1. REGISTERED OFFICE – The registered office of the corporation shall be established and maintained at 2222 Pennsylvania Avenue, Topeka, Shawnee County, in the State of Kansas.

SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES – The Corporation may have other offices, either within or without the State of Kansas, at such place or places as the Designated Representatives may from time to time appoint or the business of the corporation may require.

ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. DEFINITION – The membership of the corporation shall consist of home school support groups from within the State of Kansas accepted for membership in accordance with Sections 2 and 3 below.

SECTION 2. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP – A home school support group seeking membership in the corporation shall submit a written application for membership, which shall provide the following information concerning the support group: a) the support group’s name, if established; b) the community or geographical area served; c) the name, address and telephone number of the support group’s elected or acknowledged leaders; d) an indication of the number of members of the support group and e) a description of the activities of the support group.

SECTION 3. ACCEPTANCE FOR MEMBERSHIP – A support group shall be accepted for membership in the corporation by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Designated Representatives present at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives, subject to the requirements of quorum. Once a support group’s membership is accepted, that membership shall continue so long as the support group remains active according to the definition below, until such time as the support group resigns, or is removed in accordance with Section 5 below.

A support group shall be considered active so long as it has an individual who acts as a point of contact with CHECK, provides information to those seeking information about homeschooling in the area they serve, and provides support to homeschoolers of the area served.

SECTION 4. RESIGNATION OF MEMBERSHIP – A support group may resign its membership at any time. Such resignation shall be made by in writing by the support group leader or Designated Representative and shall take effect immediately upon receipt by any officer of the corporation. The acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

SECTION 5. REMOVAL FROM MEMBERSHIP – A member support group may be removed from membership in the corporation, with or without cause, by a three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of the Designated Representatives present at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives, subject to the requirements of quorum.

SECTION 6. TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP – Membership in this corporation is not transferable or assignable.

SECTION 7. DESIGNATION OF A REPRESENTATIVE – Upon acceptance for membership in the corporation, the member support group’s leader shall designate the support group’s Representative. The support group leader may designate a new representative at any time in writing to the Chairman, his/her Regional Representative, or the Secretary. In the event that a support group’s Designated Representative is unable to attend meetings or otherwise fulfill responsibilities as a Representative, the support group leader may designate a temporary representative by notifying by telephone or in writing to the Chairman, his/her Regional Representative, or the Secretary.

SECTION 8. VOTING RIGHTS OF MEMBERS – Each member support group shall be entitled to one (1) vote in all matters. This vote shall be exercised through the member’s Representative as designated by the support group leader. In the event that a support group’s Designated Representative is unable to attend a duly called Meeting of the Representatives, the support group leader may designate a temporary representative, or the support group leader may exercise the member support group’s vote by absentee ballot, including by telephone or by mail, or by proxy. Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, all matters brought to a vote shall be decided by a majority vote of the Designated Representatives present at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives, subject to the requirements of quorum.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES

SECTION 1. BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES – The Designated Representatives of the corporation’s member support groups shall constitute the Board of Representatives, which shall conduct the business of the corporation at duly called Meetings of the Representatives.

SECTION 2. CALLING OF MEETINGS – Meetings of the Representatives, at which any business of the corporation may be transacted, may be called by the Chairman, at least five Designated Representatives, or by a majority of the Board of Directors. Such meetings shall be called pursuant to Section 3 below.

SECTION 3. NOTICE OF MEETINGS – Notice of a Meeting of the Representatives, either written or by telephone, stating the location, the date and the time of the meeting, shall be provided to the support group leader for each member of the corporation not less than fourteen days before the date of the meeting.

SECTION 4. WAIVER OF NOTICE OF MEETINGS – Notice of meeting need not be given to any member whose support group leader or Designated Representative signs a waiver of notice, in person or by proxy, whether before or after the meeting. The attendance of any Designated Representative at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives, in person or by proxy, without protesting the lack of notice of meeting prior to the beginning of the meeting, shall constitute a waiver of notice by that member.

SECTION 5. QUORUM – Except as otherwise required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, the presence, in person or by proxy, of at least eight (8) Designated Representatives of the members of the corporation, or if the total membership of corporation is less than eight (8), Designated Representatives of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the existing membership of the corporation, shall constitute a quorum at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives for the transaction of any business.

Voting by absentee ballot, whether in writing or by telephone, by any member support group shall be considered as equivalent to representation by proxy for purposes of quorum, but only for those issues specifically addressed in the absentee ballot.

SECTION 6. PROXY – A member support group may authorize an individual other than its Designated Representative to represent it at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives by having its support group leader designate a temporary representative, either in writing or by telephone to the Chairman, his/her Regional Representative, or the Secretary. A temporary representative may be the Designated Representative of another member, and accordingly, such a Representative would vote once for each member represented.

ARTICLE VII – ACTION WITHOUT MEETING

SECTION 1. CONSENT OF THE MEMBERSHIP – Except as otherwise required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, any action which may be taken upon a majority vote may be taken without a duly called Meeting of the Representatives provided a majority of the members of the corporation shall consent in writing, signed by either the member support group’s leader or its Designated Representative.

ARTICLE VIII – OFFICERS

SECTION 1. OFFICERS – The officers of the corporation shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Treasurer and a Secretary. None of the officers need also be Designated Representatives of the members of the corporation. More than one office may be held by a single individual.

In view of their significant support to the cause of home education and to their spouses as officers of CHECK, spouses of elected officers shall also be considered officers of the corporation. They are encouraged to participate in Board meetings and business and may vote as proxy if for any reason the officer is unable to vote.

Officers shall not receive any stated salaries for services as an officer. However, nothing herein stated shall preclude any officer from being reimbursed for expenses incurred while fulfilling these duties; i.e. travel-related expenses, phone calls, postage, etc.

All Officers:
1. Must sign the statement attached signifying that they agree with all parts of CHECK’s statement of faith and CHECK’s statement of purpose.
2. Must have privately home educated his or her child(ren) for at least two years by the time their term of office begins.
3. Must regularly attend a local church or be actively seeking a new church home.

SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICERS AND AGENTS – The Board of Representatives may appoint or elect other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Representatives.

SECTION 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE – The officers of the corporation shall be elected by the Board of Representatives by a majority vote of the Designated Representatives present at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives, subject to the requirements of quorum. Each officer shall hold office for two years, or for such other term as may be determined by the Board of Representatives, and until such time as his/her successor has been elected or appointed and qualified, or until removed from office.

There are no limits to the number of successive terms which an officer may hold a particular office.

Should for any reason, the Chairman be unable to complete his/her term of office, the Vice-Chairman shall become Chairman. Should any other officer be unable to complete his/her term of office, the CHECK Board of Directors shall appoint a temporary replacement to serve until the next meeting of the Board of Representatives when the temporary replacement shall be affirmed or a new replacement be elected in accordance with the provisions above. Such replacements shall meet the requirements of Section 1 of this Article.

SECTION 4. RESIGNATION – An officer may resign his/her office at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect immediately upon receipt by any other officer of the corporation. The acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

SECTION 5. REMOVAL – Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Representatives may be removed from office, with or without cause, by a three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of the Designated Representatives present at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives, subject to the requirements of quorum.

SECTION 6. VOTING BY OFFICERS – Except as noted below, the officers of the corporation receive no vote in any matters brought to a vote in a duly called Meeting of the Representatives by virtue of their election to office. Officers that also serve as the Designated Representative of a member support group retain their vote as a Designated Representative. In the case of a tie vote, the Chairman shall exercise the deciding vote.

SECTION 7. CHAIRMAN – The Chairman of the Board of Representatives shall serve as the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in that office. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Representatives and the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties as may be required by these By-Laws or from time to time assigned by the Board of Representatives and the Board of Directors.

SECTION 8. VICE-CHAIRMAN – In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the Chairman. He/she shall also perform such other duties as may be required by these By-Laws or from time to time assigned by the Board of Representatives and the Board of Directors.

SECTION 9. TREASURER – The Treasurer shall have custody of the funds of the corporation and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in the books of the corporation. He/she shall deposit all money and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Representatives or Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Representatives, Board of Directors, or the Chairman, maintaining proper vouchers or other documentation for such disbursements. He/she shall render to the Chairman, Board of Directors, and the Board of Representatives at the duly called Meetings of the Representatives, or whenever they may request it, a full and accurate account of all his/her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation. He/she shall also perform such other duties as may be required by these By-Laws or from time to time assigned by the Board of Representatives or Board of Directors.

SECTION 10. SECRETARY – The Secretary shall personally attend, or designate a substitute who will attend, all of the meetings of the Board of Representatives and Board of Directors to record all votes and minutes of all proceedings. He/she shall also give, or cause to be given, notice of all Meetings of the Representatives. The Secretary shall also perform such other duties as may be required by these By-Laws or from time to time assigned by the Board of Representatives or Board of Directors.

SECTION 11. REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES – At the biennial meeting when the CHECK officers are elected, the Board of Representatives shall elect Regional Representatives to serve for a period of two years on the CHECK Board of Directors and to act as an intermediary between the CHECK Board of Directors and the respective support groups in his/her U.S. House District and to perform other duties required by these By-Laws or assigned by the Board of Directors, the Board of Representatives, or the Chairman.

Designated Representatives from each U.S. House District shall elect one Regional Representatives, except for 1) District 1, which may elect one or two Regional Representatives, 2) District 3, which shall be selected by the Midwest Parent Educators and 3) District 4, which shall be appointed by Teaching Parents Association.

If an elected Regional Representative moves out of the U.S. House District he/she represents or otherwise cannot complete his/her term, the Board of Directors may appoint a temporary replacement to serve until the next Board of Representatives meeting when the temporary replacement shall be affirmed or a new replacement be elected in accordance with the provisions above. Such replacements shall meet the requirements of this section.

All Regional Representatives:
1. Must sign the statement attached signifying that they agree with all parts of CHECK’s statement of faith and CHECK’s statement of purpose.
2. Must have privately home educated his or her child(ren) for at least two years by the time their term of office begins.
3. Must regularly attend a local church or be actively seeking a new church home.

Any Regional Representative elected by the Board of Representatives or appointed as replacement by the Board of Directors may be removed from office, with or without cause, by a three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of the Board of Directors at a duly called Meeting of the Board of Directors, subject to the requirements of quorum.

ARTICLE IX – CHECK BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. HOW CONSTITUTED – The Board of Directors of CHECK shall be composed of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Regional Representatives, and other individuals designated by the Board of Representatives.

SECTION 2. POWERS AND LIMITATIONS OF POWERS.

(a) The Board of Directors shall have the control of all affairs, properties, and funds of CHECK, under the guidance of the Board of Representatives.

(b) The Board of Directors shall have such powers as are prescribed in these By-Laws; provided further that it shall exercise general control and supervision of all elected and appointed officers, Regional Representatives, and committees of CHECK

(c) Actions of the Board of Directors shall be by majority vote of the Board members present at any meeting where a quorum is present, except for resolutions concerning legislation and public policy which shall require a two-thirds vote of Board members present.

The Board of Directors shall have all of the statutory powers enumerated for non-profit corporations under the laws of the state of Kansas.

SECTION 3. MEETINGS

(a) The Board of Directors shall meet at such times and places as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors, by call of the Chairman, or by written request of four members of the Board of Directors, provided there shall be at least two meetings each year. Requests for special meetings should be addressed to the Chairman and the Secretary. The Chairman shall call the meeting within thirty (30) days of such requests. A written notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Board of Directors shall be mailed or e-mailed to each Officer by the Chairman or Secretary not less than fourteen (14) days prior to said meeting.

(b) The Board of Directors may, without meeting together, transact business by mail or e-mail, by voting on questions submitted to them by or with the approval of the Chairman. Fifteen (15) days shall be allowed for return of the votes thereon by mail to the Secretary of CHECK or other person, as designated by the Chairman. Seven (7) days shall be allowed for return of e-mailed ballots. If, at the expiration of the required period of time, the required number of members equal to a quorum of the Board of Directors have not returned their ballots, the measure being voted upon shall be deemed to have failed. All ballots shall be retained as directed by the Chairman until the next Board of Directors meeting, at which time the Board of Directors shall order the disposition of the ballots.

(c) Quorum – Except as otherwise required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, a quorum shall consist of the presence, in person or by proxy, of at least one-half of the members of the Board of Directors. Should a sufficient number of Board Members withdraw from a duly called meeting of the Board of Directors so as to break a quorum, the remaining members of the Board of Directors may adjourn the meeting despite the absence of a quorum. Voting by absentee ballot, whether in writing or by telephone, by any member of the Board of Directors shall be considered as equivalent to representation by proxy for the purposes of a quorum, but only for those issues specifically addressed in the absentee ballot.

(d) Proxy – In the case of Regional Representatives, his/her spouse may serve as proxy when the Regional Representative is not available for vote. The Chairman may designate, with the concurrence of the current Regional Representative, a temporary replacement for that Representative for a given meeting to obtain a quorum. The temporary replacement must be from the same U.S. House District as the Representative being replaced.

SECTION 4. AUTHORITY OF BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERS – All individual members of the Board of Directors serve subject to the authority of the Board of Directors. Each member of the Board of Directors is accountable to the Board of Directors as to their conduct of their duties.

SECTION 5. REPORTING AND APPEAL – Minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors shall be distributed to the Designated Representatives of CHECK member support groups within three weeks. Decisions of the Board of Directors may be appealed to the Board of Representatives provided the appeal is filed by the CHECK Designated Representative or Support Group Leader of at least five (5) CHECK member support groups, and that notice of such appeal is mailed to the CHECK Secretary within six weeks after such Board of Directors’ action is taken. Upon receiving notification of appeal, said secretary shall notify each member Support Group of such appeal. A meeting of the Board of Representatives shall be called by the Chairman within 30 days of the receipt of written notification to resolve the appeal.

SECTION 6. WAIVER OF NOTICE OF MEETINGS – Notice of Board of Director meetings need not be given to any Board of Director who signs a waiver of notice, in person or by proxy, whether before or after the meeting. The attendance of any Board of Director or his/her spouse at a duly called meeting of the Board of Directors, in person or by proxy, without protesting the lack of notice of meeting prior to the beginning of the meeting, shall constitute a waiver of notice by that Board of Director.

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. Except as otherwise required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, these By-Laws may be altered or repealed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Designated Representatives present at a duly called Meeting of the Representatives, subject to the requirements of quorum.

ARTICLE XI – OTHER MATTERS

SECTION 1. BOOKS AND RECORDS – The corporation shall maintain complete and accurate records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings and actions taken at all Meetings of the Representatives.

SECTION 2. FISCAL YEAR – The fiscal year of the corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Representatives.

Revised and approved: June 30, 2001

CHECK Board Member Covenant:

With my signature, I __________________________________affirm the following: (name)

1. I affirm that I agree with the statement of purpose of CHECK outlined below.

2. That I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and Lord and asked for forgiveness of sin in my life and agree with the statement of faith outlined below.

Signature ________________________ Date: ___________

CHECK statements of purpose and statement of faith

PURPOSE

Christian Home Educators Confederation of Kansas (CHECK) is a Kansas state homeschool organization. CHECK’s mission is to further the interests of private home education in Kansas by providing accurate, helpful information on home education; encouraging the creation, functioning and growth of local support groups; and advocating for home education in the state and federal legislatures and other relevant agencies and organizations. CHECK-sponsored activities and publications will be consistently Christian and dedicated to the honor and glory of God in keeping with the Biblical commands of Deuteronomy 6:4-10, Proverbs 22:6, and Ephesians 6:4.

CHECK does not seek to represent, or speak for, all home educators in Kansas or even all Christian home educators in Kansas. CHECK is not a governing or certifying body for home educators. CHECK is not a church nor is this organization meant to replace the ministry of the local church to the home education family.

CHECK advocates for private home education, i.e. homeschoolers who take full responsibility for the education of their children without government assistance.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

We believe:
1. The Bible to be the inspired, infallible, divinely preserved Word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life.
2. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His imminent bodily return in power and glory.
4. That man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone, not trusting in any personal works whatsoever, can be saved.
5. That salvation is the free gift of God brought to the sinner by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for man’s sin.
6. That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict mankind; indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
7. In the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that individual doctrinal differences which may exist, outside of the aforementioned (III:1-6), should not hinder the unity of Christian home educators.